Formal Three-Part Outline

Introduction, Body & Conclusion

NOTE: Formal outlines require a special numbering system. If you have a I, you must have a II. If you have an A, you must have a B. If you have a 1, you must have a 2, and so on:. The traditional outline has three sections: introduction, body, and conclusion. The basic model looks like this:

Title

Introduction

The background

The thesis statement

Body

First major category of support

Supporting detail

Supporting detail

Supporting detail

Second major category of support

Supporting detail

Supporting detail

Third major category of support

Supporting detail

Supporting detail

Conclusion

Review of the major categories of support

The answer, solution, or final option

Now here is an example of the basic model of this formal three-point outline.